question about claiming weekly Unemployment benefits

thea

I have a valid UIB claim with NY state. In Dec. I found a P/T seasonal job in retail. I claimed my weekly benefits declaring the number of days I worked; for those of you who know, doing this honestly results in loss of income if you're making minimum wage. Anyway, I've started working P/T again for the same employer and loosing money from UIB. I've come to terms with this absurd financial situation only to learn that the employer wants me to work 4 or 5 days a week while other employees take sick leave/vacation. I will be loosing so much money if I claim the all of the days I will be working. How does the Unemployment office know how many days I work or how may hours a day I work? I'v heard of people getting caught when they claim fewer days than they actually work...any one have experience with this? It totally sucks loosing money because you actually find work...Thanks!

crowhillkitty

it doesn't matter how many hours a day you work, just how many days you work. don't claim fewer days than you work -- if you are working on the books, unemployment can easily find out and bust you. i know someone who was cuffed and arrested for supposed unemployment violations. not fun.

there is a rule that says you only have to accept work that pays a certain percentage of what you used to make when you were earning to qualify for the claim. maybe this would apply, and you can legally turn down the work and still claim because it doesn't pay enough:

http://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/claimantinfo/onceyouhaveappliedfaq.shtm#18

Q: What kind of work do I have to look for?

A: You must be prepared to accept suitable work while collecting unemployment insurance benefits. Suitable work is work for which you are reasonably fitted by training and experience. This means that you have to look for work in all your most recent occupations, especially if the prospect of obtaining work in your primary skill area is not good.

After 13 full weeks of benefits are claimed, suitable work will also include any work that you are capable of performing, whether or not you have any experience or are training in such work, unless you obtain employment through a union hiring hall or have a definite date to return to work. Such work must pay at least 80% of your high-quarter base-period wages. Any offered work must pay the prevailing wage for such work in your area. You must also be willing to travel a reasonable distance to obtain employment. As a general rule, travel of one hour by private transportation or one and one half hours by public transportation is considered reasonable.